I'm a newbie and need help. I'm building a PC for home use, and I'd appreciate it if folks would take a look at my requirements and the components I'm currently looking at and comment accordingly. Here are my requirements:
Keep it around $1000 without the monitor.
I'd like to be able to overclock it mildly without the need for anything extreme like water cooling. I'm new at overclocking as well.
For a CPU, I want to use the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 chip unless there's something else that's better bang for your buck.
I'd use the PC for quite a bit of video conversion.
I'd use the PC as a media server using TVersity.
I rarely play games on a PC, but I'd like it to be capable of doing so.
I may use a 32" 1080i Olevia LCD as a screen.
I doubt I'll ever use SLI or anything like that. With that in mind, I'd like to be able to upgrade this system from time to time and have it be somewhat future proof.
Here are the components with pricing (includes rebates, tax, and shipping) I'm looking at:
Graphics - ($226 at New Egg) EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - CAN I GET AWAY WITH A CHEAPER CARD?
Power - ($120 at New Egg) AeroCool ZERODBA ZERODBA-S620 EPS 12V & ATX 12V 2.02 compliant with Powerful Dual +12V Rails 620W Power Supply - DO I NEED THIS MUCH POWER?
CPU - ($265 at CompUSA) Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 GH without fan - DO I NEED THE FAN??
Motherboard - ($150 at New Egg) ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX - BASED ON WHAT I"VE READ, THIS SEEMS LIKE A SOLID BOARD THAT IS NEWBIE FRIENDLY.
RAM - ($41 at New Egg) Wintec Ampo DDR2 PC2-6400 (2GB) - I DIDN'T DO MUCH RESEARCH HERE. I JUST TOOK WHAT TOM'S HARDWARE USED IN THEIR BUDGET OVERCLOCK SYSTEM.
Case - ($77 at New Egg) RAIDMAX Smilodon Extreme Black ATX-612WEB SECC STEEL ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (No Power Supply) - I DIDN'T DO MUCH RESEARCH HERE. I JUST TOOK WHAT TOM'S HARDWARE USED IN THEIR BUDGET OVERCLOCK SYSTEM.
Hard Drive - ($80 at New Egg) Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
- I DIDN'T DO MUCH RESEARCH HERE. I JUST TOOK WHAT TOM'S HARDWARE SUGGESTED IN THEIR BUDGET OVERCLOCK SYSTEM.
CPU Cooler - ($42 at New Egg) Thermalright XP-90 & 120mm fan - DO I EVEN NEED THIS? WILL THIS EVEN FIT? I DIDN'T DO MUCH RESEARCH HERE. I JUST TOOK WHAT TOM'S HARDWARE USED IN THEIR BUDGET OVERCLOCK SYSTEM.
DVD-RW - ($32 at New Egg) SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM - I DIDN'T THINK THIS MATTERED THAT MUCH, AND I LIKE THE LIGHTSCRIBE FEATURE.
Network Card - ($?? at ??) I'd like a solid wireless N card because I don't want to have to run wire to the PC. I haven't gotten a wireless N router yet, so it'll have to be able to handle G as well.
Sound - ($0) Onboard
I appreciate any advice anyone is willing to provide and would also appreciate it if you let me know if I missed any components and if there are better deals out there than the ones I found. Thanks!
Its a very good start. For the money maybe consider going to a 500 GB HD if you doing alot of video storing. The CORSAIR 520HX is generally considered a better PSU. Your PSU is not rated high on the table below. The CPU and Mobo are very good choices. If you want to overclock then yes a cpu cooler is a good idea. Consider 2 x 2GB Ram if your OS can use them and your budget can afford it.
Thanks for the input ImajorI and for the clarification ZozZoz. I'll take a look into your recommendations. I'll probably stick to 2 GB Ram (possibly go up to 3 GB) because I'm going to stick use Vista 32 bit OS for now since I have it on hand.
ehmm... i suggest changing the gfx card to something else... ie, the HD3850/70 (not sure of mobo compatibility, but's it's fantatstic for HDTV and all that) or the 8800GT... all are as powerful, or more powerful, and in the case of ATI, cheaper...
